What are remedies for migraine?

A migraine is the occurrence of severe pain in the head, especially on one side, most often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tingling in arms and legs, and sensitivity to sound and light. Sometimes, migraines may be accompanied by an aura that is associated with other symptoms such as visual disturbances including flashes, shimmering lights of different colors which are surrounded by the blind spot, splotches or zigzags. The pain might last for around 4 hours and can extend to 72 hours.

Doctors say that a migraine is an ailment or disorder that consists of neurological and changes in vascular systems that occur during the throbbing pain in the brain. Thus, migraine is also a neurobiological disorder. People with this disorder, have a reduction in the threshold for activating the pain centers in the brain and thus they are hypersensitive to the stimuli which cause pain.

A migraine is mostly triggered by some kind of allergies, smoking, stress, bright lights, alcohol consumption, loud noises, skipping meals, strong smells, increased amount of caffeine, dehydration, poor posture, irregular sleep patterns, hyperglycemia and fluctuations in hormonal balance.

Natural remedies for treating a migraine:

• Use of ice packs to stop the pain during a migraine attack. Ice acts as an anti-inflammatory treatment and is beneficial for treating migraine.

• Taking supplements of riboflavin for about 3 months, which might reduce the frequency of triggering the pain of a migraine. Another supplement named CoQ10 is also useful in preventing a migraine attack.

• Massaging your neck and shoulder can be relaxing and prevent the pain attack. Yoga also might be helpful as it is focused and relaxing.

• Herbs can also be useful in solving the problem of a migraine. Feverfew is the herb which is used for treating migraine. It contains parthenolide, a compound that relieves the spasms in the smooth muscle tissue and in turn prevents inflammation. In addition, it also neutralizes the chemical prostaglandins that influence the pain signal in the brain.

• Acupuncture therapy can also provide relief from the severe pain caused by a migraine.

Home remedies for treating migraine:

 Apple cider vinegar – Use of apple cider vinegar is beneficial in treating migraines and also other health benefits such as controlling the blood sugar levels, aiding detoxification, regulating the blood pressure, reducing pain in the bones, helpful in reduction of body weight and also useful in treating constipation.

 Peppermint also has an anti-inflammatory property that helps in soothing the nerve during a migraine attack. It also has an antispasmodic and calming effect. One can massage the temples with a drop of peppermint oil for relief.

 Cayenne pepper is one of the best remedies for relief. It stimulates circulation of blood and helps in improving blood flow. The main compound of pepper is capsaicin which acts as a natural painkiller.

 Chamomile also has an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic property that have a soothing effect which is useful for relieving migraine pain attack.

 Ginger might be useful in treating migraines. Prostaglandins are the chemicals which promote muscle contractions, impact hormones and regulate inflammation in blood vessels in the brain. The production of this chemical is blocked by ginger, which is useful for treating migraine.

 As soon as you feel that the migraine attack is triggered, eat an apple to reduce the pain.

 A strong coffee can be useful in treating migraine attack. Caffeine restricts the blood vessels and also blocks the receptors that cause a migraine. However, caffeine might be a triggering factor for some people.

• One should get enough sleep, low carbohydrates, and high protein diet, keep yourself hydrated and avoid foods that might trigger the pain attack.

Medical treatments for a migraine:

 Anti – hypertensives and beta – blockers include propranolol, timolol, and metoprolol which are used for the treatment of migraines as they affect the blood vessels involved in the migraine attack.

 Anti-seizure medications reduce the frequency of the migraine pain attack by 50% by inhibiting the neurotransmitters. However, there might be some side-effects of the anti-seizure drugs, like confusion, dizziness, and drowsiness.

 Anti-depressants such as tricyclics, SSRIs are useful in treating migraine. Some of the migraine attacks occur due to the abnormal or irregular levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The anti-depressants drugs help in maintaining the balance of serotonin levels.

 Botox injections are used for treating migraines as they are clinically proven and approved by Food and Drug Association in 2010.